Want to hear more from the actors and creators of your favorite shows and films? Subscribe to The Cinema Spot on YouTube for all of our upcoming interviews!
The last time we saw Hawkins Police Chief Jim Hopper in Season 1 of Stranger Things, after saving Will Byers from The Upside Down, he was taken away, likely by those who are behind what happens at Hawkins Lab, the facility that brought about Eleven, the Demogorgon, and the Upside Down in the first place. It’s likely to assume Chief Hopper, due to his meddling, will be forced to do their bidding. Come to find out, what will happen with Hopper is discussed by none other than the actor who portrays him, David Harbour, in an AMA recently.
Harbour mentions that Hopper will have “renewed interest in life”, what seems like a far-cry from the day-to-day, run-of-the-mill, go-through-the-motions Hopper we saw for the majority of Season 1. The disturbance in his life created by Hawkins Lab, although making stakes high, was in the end an exciting change of pace for him. Let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to embrace living in the world of Stranger Things (as long as their life wasn’t being threatened)? Harbour continues saying his character will be “butting up against the place where his hero fantasy can’t take him […] the places where that hero complex may force him to make the wrong decisions” making for a “satisfying, completely different journey”. It makes me wonder if either Hawkins Lab will be manipulating him, or he may have to be forced into a worse situation by continuing to go against them.
Overall, though, Harbour adds he is “so excited” for us to see Season 2 play out, calling it “fun and dark and complex”, as not just Hop, but “the characters all get to deepen and develop” and are to “take on even greater demons (inner and outer)”.
Harbour also includes some additional easter eggs in his answers. Apparently, we’ll “get to see exactly Hop’s taste in music”, speaking of “a great moment” in episode 2 where we “may see him…”, leaving us hanging because he “won’t say more”. Sing? Dance? Play an instrument? It’s killing me! What also excites me is the likely return of the synth-y score and soundtrack of the times. The Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go” played such a significant part in the story first season, as well as being a pleasure to listen to overall. Not only that, but Harbour specifically mentions episodes 4 and 5, better known as “The Palace” and “The Storm” respectively, stating they are “incredible”, “the story moves so fast and the tension is so high”, and that “they’re killer”.
Audiences must be wondering what these titles and images from the trailer must’ve meant, and Harbour’s words lend a whole new meaning to it all. My theory: “The Palace” is an arcade that our characters regularly visit, the ATARI being all the hype for Will at Christmas in Season 1’s finale. However, when a storm comes, a dangerous creature from a favorite video game of theirs, which could be called “The Storm, comes to life, becoming larger than life. The kicker is that if the tensions are high, and the episodes are killer, is there a risk of a beloved character getting killed in these episodes? Guess we’ll have to wait until October to find out!
What guesses do you have about what will happen with Hopper and the rest of the characters in Season 2 of Stranger Things? Tweet Geek Motivation and myself, Mike Guimond, with your thoughts!
7 Comments on “Chief Jim Hopper to Hop Around in His Character Development in Season 2 of Stranger Things”